Quick ball placement

WHY USE IT

Quick ball placement allows for quick rucks and chances to attack when the defence is at its most vulnerable. This activity builds up the essential skills.

SET UP

Ruck pads and several balls.

HOW TO PLAY

Activity: An attacker lays on the ground on their front, with a ball by their side. On a call of “Go!”, the player gets up and drives into the pad in front, square on. They hit the ground and use the ‘score the try’ technique – this is where they fight to hit the deck, with the ball in two hands protected underneath them. It buys the support player a couple of vital seconds, and the opposition can’t see the ball at the contest. Once they have done this, they fight to get the ball as far away as possible from the body and, in turn, the opposition.

Development: Introduce a tackler and another support player. The other tackler will make the tackle, and the ruck pad-holder will try to win the space over the ball during presentations.

COACHING POINTS

• When taking the ball into contact, the ball carrier must take the contact square.
• The ball carrier must maintain strong leg drive throughout the contact.
• The support player aims to win the space over and beyond the ball, if there’s not an immediate contest.
• The ball carrier stays low in contact, driving forward before ‘scoring a try’ and then presenting the ball.

ACTIVITY

1. The ball carrier starts on their front, with a ruck pad-holder about 3m away

2. The ball carrier gets up and drives into the pad holder, square and low

3. They then go to ground as if they are scoring a try, with the ball underneath them. They must not push the ball between their legs

4. They must then snap the ball back as far away from the body as they can

DEVELOPMENT

1. Add a support player and a tackler

2. The other tackler will make the tackle

1. The support player aims to win the space over the ball, as the ball carrier presents the ball...

2. ...and drives back the oncoming ruck pad-holder